While many have heard of the tragedies of the Radium Girls in the 1920s, few people understand the extent of early America’s obsession with Radioactivity. Coined the “Radium Craze,” citizens across the nation became infatuated with radium during the early 20th century, praising it for its supposed miracle properties. Entrepreneurs, looking to take advantage of the new market, began incorporating radium into new products, ranging all the way from cosmetics and toothpaste to bottled water. As Oakland Tech’s Drama department begins work on its spring production “Radium Girls,” it is important to acknowledge that this fad went far beyond just glow-in-the-dark watch dials and understand its repercussions across the country.
One main product that appeared during this time was radium water, a mix of distilled water and radium isotopes said to cure a broad range of ailments such as acne, impotence, and heart disease. During this period, researchers started to detect radioactivity in natural springs across the U.S., and physicians also suggested there could be a multitude of health benefits garnered from ingesting these waters. American companies jumped at the opportunity to market radium water, as most Americans lacked the facilities to travel to these springs. From this discovery, multiple companies emerged, the most popular being the Great Radium Spring Water Company and Radithor.
In addition to dissolved radium, the element was also included in a wide range of consumer products. Customers could expect to find radium products such as face creams, hair tonics, powders, and bar soap at the store. An ad from the Radithor company advertised these products as “a source of never-dying energy which vitalizes tissue, eliminates blemishes, tones up glands and muscles and brings back the rounded contours, rosy color and soft firm texture of youth.”
Radium products even went as far as food items. Items such as radium coffee, butter, beer, and chocolate bars appeared in stores across the country. However, recent analysis shows that many companies may have simply added the word “radium” to their products to latch onto the craze. But, these unfounded claims did not stop consumers from purchasing as many radium products as possible (despite their often outrageous prices).
Despite its apparent popularity, the radium craze was not all false advertising, and many products when consumed in excess led to a variety of health conditions. Radiation exposure could lead to increased risks of cancer, mainly of the lung and bone varieties, as well as anemia, cataracts, and reduced bone growth. This was especially true for the Radium Girls, as many developed dental problems, including a condition nicknamed “Radium Jaw” in which one’s jaw would rot off of their skull due to bone decay.
As radium’s popularity spread across the nation and the world, many suffered from its consequences. Despite this, the radium craze would last for decades and capture the minds of thousands of Americans. If you want to learn more about the obsession with radium, you can learn about the plight of the Radium Girls in Oakland Tech’s spring production.